On this page
- Choose a SkyWars plugin for your server
- SkyWarsReloaded: in-game arena tools and BungeeCord mode
- SkyWars+: a Paper option for 1.21.x
- Paid alternatives for different arena layouts
- Prepare the server, lobby and arenas
- Install the plugin and map files
- Configure matches, kits and lobby information
- Connect a lobby and game servers
- Run a launch checklist before opening
Key takeaways
5- Choose a SkyWars plugin that matches your Minecraft version and preferred arena layout.
- SkyWarsReloaded requires WorldEdit and supports solo, team and BungeeCord modes.
- Test map registration, loot, kits, permissions and a full match before launch.
- A proxy network needs its lobby and game servers configured and tested together.
- Back up maps and configuration before making changes.
This guide is for server owners starting a SkyWars network or adding matches to an existing server. You will finish with a plugin choice, a plan for arenas and the lobby, and a checklist for connecting game servers and opening to players.
Choose a SkyWars plugin for your server
Pick based on your Minecraft version, how you want to manage arenas, and whether games share one server or run behind a proxy. Check the current listing and test on a copy before building around any plugin.
SkyWarsReloaded: in-game arena tools and BungeeCord mode
SkyWarsReloaded is a free option listed as tested on Minecraft 1.8 through 1.21. It supports solo and team matches, waiting lobbies, kits, cosmetics, voting, stats and BungeeCord mode. WorldEdit is required. The project documentation has installation, kit, chest and arena guides, though its map creation guide is marked as coming soon.
SkyWars+: a Paper option for 1.21.x
SkyWars+ is a free Paper plugin for 1.21.x with solo and duo modes, automatic chest detection, an in-game loot editor and editable menus. The listing describes its setup using world folders in plugins/SkyWarsPlus/maps/ and map settings in map_data.yml. Its Modrinth page had not been updated for about a year when checked, so verify that it suits your server before committing to it.
Paid alternatives for different arena layouts
Modern SkyWars Minigame Plugin is designed for one minigame per server, with BungeeCord routing players to games. Its listing covers Minecraft 1.21.8 to 26.2 and describes kits, cosmetics and VIP perks. Skywars X supports multiple arenas in one world, solo or team modes, kits, cages, trails and Bungee mode. Both are paid resources, and each had two reviews when checked, so treat those small review counts as limited evidence.
Our team also made a ready-made classic 1.8 setup with six arenas, ranks, a party system, scoreboards and leaderboard holograms. It uses TAB, CommandPanels and DecentHolograms. Consider it if you want a prepared starting point rather than configuring a network from scratch.
Prepare the server, lobby and arenas
SkyWarsReloaded needs WorldEdit for map work. WorldEdit can make selections, copy and paste builds, and work with schematics. Limit access to trusted builders by using operator status or permissions.
Plan each arena around the mode and team size you intend to run. Make sure island starts are separated, chests are reachable, and players have a clear route into combat. Keep a separate lobby world or server if you want players to queue without standing inside an active arena.
With SkyWarsReloaded, set the lobby spawn and create or import an arena, then save and register it. The project wiki has inconsistent command spelling between pages: setup instructions show /sw spawn and /swm create, while the commands page uses alternatives such as /sw setspawn and /swmap. Check the current wiki or in-game help for exact spelling on your build.
/swm create <name>
/swm import <folderName>
/swm save <name>
/swm register <name>Test the arena with a small group. Confirm the waiting area, team starts, chests, spectator flow and end of match before adding more maps. SkyWarsReloaded supports chest voting and lets admins add items to chest types, so tune loot for match length and your server's rules.
Install the plugin and map files
Download the plugin and its required dependency from their project pages. Upload the jars, place imported map folders in the location expected by your chosen plugin, then restart the server. For SkyWars+, its listing specifies plugins/SkyWarsPlus/maps/; follow the selected plugin's own instructions for other files.
Stop the server, upload plugin jars to plugins/ and map folders to the correct plugin directory with SFTP or your file tool. Start the server from its shell or service, then watch the console for load errors.
Stop the server in the Console. Use File Manager or SFTP to upload jars to plugins/ and map folders to the plugin's map directory. Start it from the Console and check the startup log.
Stop the server from the console. Open Files / FTP, upload jars and map folders to the correct directories, then start the server and review the console output.
If you still need to prepare the Paper server itself, follow our Paper setup guide before adding the minigame.
Configure matches, kits and lobby information
Give players the permissions they need to join, check stats, quit and spectate. Keep admin commands limited to staff. SkyWarsReloaded documents permissions such as sw.join, sw.stats, sw.quit, sw.spectate and sw.admin. Use the plugin's own permissions page to confirm the current nodes.
Set minimum players, kit access and chest loot, then run a complete test round. Check that players return to the lobby afterward and that stats or storage behave as expected. The plugin lists MySQL support for stats. If you add lobby leaderboards, DecentHolograms supports multi-page holograms and PlaceholderAPI.
TAB can manage scoreboards, tab formatting, nametags and boss bars. Use it to show clear queue or match information, but avoid filling every line with data players do not need.
For a walkthrough covering world setup and Bungee configuration, see the SkyWars setup video from our team's ElixirNode channel. It is an older walkthrough, so use the current plugin documentation when its commands differ.
Connect a lobby and game servers
If you use SkyWarsReloaded BungeeCord mode, configure its documented lobby setting, database and game server list, then restart all participating servers after saving. Maps still need to be created or imported on each game server. Its setup guide gives a game server entry format containing the server name, port, display name, maximum players and team size. Check the plugin wiki for the exact current config keys and format before editing.
A proxy network needs a lobby that routes players to available games and game servers that are reachable from the proxy. Our Velocity network guide covers connecting lobby and game servers. For a simpler first launch, test the minigame on one server before splitting it across a network.
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Wherever the server runs, take a backup before changing maps or plugin configuration. Keep one test arena available for staff, and check the network from a player account before sharing the address.
For the lobby layout and player navigation, see our Minecraft lobby design guide.
Run a launch checklist before opening
- Join with a regular player account and confirm the join, quit and spectator flows.
- Play a full solo or team round and check spawn points, loot, kits and match ending.
- Confirm staff permissions work and ordinary players cannot use admin commands.
- For a network, test routing from the lobby to every game server.
- Check console logs after a restart and keep a backup you can restore.
Frequently asked questions
How do I make a SkyWars server in Minecraft?
Choose a SkyWars plugin, prepare a lobby and one or more arenas, then configure match settings and permissions. Test a full round before opening the server to players.
Does SkyWarsReloaded work on Minecraft 1.21?
Its SpigotMC listing says it was tested on Minecraft 1.8 through 1.21. Check the project page and test your exact server build before launch.
How do I import a map into SkyWarsReloaded?
The setup wiki describes importing a world folder with an import command, then saving and registering the arena. The wiki uses inconsistent command spellings across pages, so check its current instructions or in-game help for the exact command.
Can I run SkyWars with a lobby and separate game servers?
SkyWarsReloaded documents a BungeeCord mode with a lobby setting, database configuration and a list of game servers. Configure each server as documented, restart them, then test routing from the lobby.
